- Comparison table
- Our top pick
- Hazmat suit basics
- Hazmat suit shopping guide
- Mira Haz-suit
- DuPont Tyvek 400
- DuPont Tychem 2000
- Bottom line
Editor's pick
It was tested extensively, and comes in six sizes unlike any other Hazmat suit out there. The US Military uses it because it offers long-lasting protection.
Runner up
It's a common option found everywhere and because of that does not offer the same level of protection as the Mira haz-suit but are much less expensive.
2nd runner up
The suit is lightweight and reasonably comfortable, and offers decent maneuverability and agility to the wearer.
In today’s uncertain world, more and more people are considering how to protect themselves and their families from the unthinkable. When it comes to protection from threats, like infections and diseases, viruses like COVID19, dangerous substances, and even Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) events, a hazardous material, or hazmat suit, is a big part of the best defense.
As a volunteer firefighter and significant disaster response veteran, who has trained rigorously on threat mitigation, hostile events, and all types of disaster responses, I want to help you find the best hazmat suit for your needs. Having the right suit available can be the difference between life and death.
There are a lot of knockoffs that call themselves the best radiation suit, as well as cheap imitations of high-end gear. Inferior products seem to flood the marketplace, so it’s essential to do a little bit of research before you spend your hard-earned money on a CBRN suit or even a set of suits for your whole family.
Let’s get into the details and review the basics of CBRN, what makes the best full hazard suit, how to choose the best radiation suit, and more.
Comparison Table
Preview | Best Choice MIRA Safety HAZ-SUIT  | Dupont Tyvek 400 Protective Coverall  | Dupont Tychem 2000 Chemical Suit  |
Level A protection | |||
Level B protection | when worn with an SCBA system | ||
Level C protection | when worn with a standard air-purifying respirator or PAPR | ||
Sizes | 2X/3X, LG/XL, SM/MD, XS, YL, YS | M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL | XL |
Customer Rating | |||
More information |
Our Top Pick Quick Look: The MIRA CBRN Hazmat Suit
MIRA Safety HAZ-SUIT
What we like
- Proven protection against CWA & TIC threats
- Ideal for CBRN civil, military, and law enforcement applications
- Trusted by professionals worldwide, including the U.S. Military
- Suitable for various applications
- Youth sizes available for children as young as 4 years old
- Hand-stitched in the U.S.A
What we don't like
- Won’t stand up to extremely high-risk environments
MIRA’s CBRN HAZMAT Suit is as good as it gets for a homeowner concerned about protecting their family. That’s because they’re durable, rugged enough for professional service, but comfortable and practical enough for a family on a budget.
It is also among the very few disposable CBRN suits available in various sizes, from toddlers to large adults. Whether you’re talking about a three-year-old or an adult who weighs three hundred pounds, one of MIRA’s six sizes will work. And it’s rare to find suits for kids.
| Size | Height | Weight (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 2X/3X | 6'2 - 6'5 | 220-300 |
| LG/XL | 5'7 - 6'2 | 160-220 |
| SM/MD | 5'3 - 5'7 | 120-160 |
| XS | 5'0 - 5'3 | 90-115 |
| YL | 4'2 - 5'0 | 60-90 |
| YS | 3'3 - 4'2 | 35-60 |
The suit’s puncture-resistant design offers an effective barrier to chemical warfare agents, highly-toxic industrial chemicals, and other hazardous materials that are lethal in even small amounts. It was tested extensively to ensure that it is shelf-stable and will not degrade when appropriately stored. If you keep them properly, they’ll remain ready to deploy for ten years or even longer.
Compared to some of the junk you see on the internet, this suit is slightly pricey. That’s because it’s more than a rain jacket or a cheap and porous suit of low-grade plastic. Instead, it’s used by the US Military because it offers long-lasting eight-hour protection against a wide variety of threats, including more than 125 known chemicals, including weapons systems and toxic industrial substances.
Heat sealing makes its taped seams extra-protective against vapor and particulate threats. That means that when you step up from a simple air purification system (like a Mira PAPR) to a high-level SCBA system, these suits also see an upgrade to Level B protection-capable.
The icing on the cake might be that this suit is compatible with their entire line of MIRA safety gas masks and full-face respirators, has a manufacturer’s warranty, a shelf life of decades or more, and an included hydration system. For our money, this is the best hazmat suit available.
But don’t just take our word for it. After we review some fundamentals of all things hazmat, let’s compare it to some other suits to give you a good foundation.
Hazmat Suit Basics
If you’ve heard the term, but don’t know what a hazmat suit really is, let’s make sure you understand the simple stuff before we go into the details. This will give you a good foundation when you’re shopping for suits for you and your family.
What’s a Hazmat Suit?
A hazardous materials suit operates in an environment where dangerous materials are present. Some people also use the phrase decontamination suit to mean the same thing. But, you have to be careful when people throw around terms without explaining the suit’s exact specifications and construction.
Whichever name a radiation suit goes by, and whatever it’s made out of, the idea is the same. A hazardous materials suit is a piece of personal protective equipment worn by workers operating in a dangerous setting, where threats to their body, particularly their skin and respiratory system, can be toxic or even lethal.
Some suits are better than others. But since there are so many different situations where you might need a protective suit, it’s also true that less expensive suits are sometimes better suited to specific tasks.
Who Needs a Hazmat Suit?
All kinds of workers and ordinary people need to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Hazmat suits are for anyone who might be exposed to threats to their health and safety while working on a job or even as a civilian after a man-made or another type of disaster.
Different people need different PPE, as each gets tailored to specific applications. Common examples of PPE wearers and the type of gear they use include:
Nurses – plastic gowns, nitrile gloves, eye shields
Firefighters – Fire-resistant clothes, helmets, cut-resistant gloves
Construction workers – Steel-toed boots, hard hats, earplugs
Personal Protective Equipment also includes other types of gear used by rescuers, workers, and military personnel. Here are some more specific examples of equipment, broken down by the parts of the body they protect:
Respirators
- N95
- CAPR
- APR
- SCBA
Skin and Body
- Impermeable gowns
- Gloves
- Face shields
- Boot covers
- Steel-toed boots
- Helmets
Eyes
- Impact-resistant glasses
- Safety goggles
Ears
- Earplugs
Some of the PPE items on this list are fairly ordinary. For instance, many health care workers have been wearing hazmat suits, face shields, gowns, and N95 masks during the COVID19 pandemic.
That sort of outfitting is commonplace these days. But in specific threat environments, like when confronting extremely dangerous hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola, healthcare workers utilize even more aggressively protective hazmat suits with completely isolated breathing systems, called SCBAs, to protect themselves from exposure to respiratory threats.
In general, a Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear (CBRN) suit is a piece of PPE designed as an impermeable layer that protects its wearer from:
- Chemical agents
- Biological agents
- Radioactive materials
- Nuclear agents
Many of these suits also have ratings for protecting the user from heat and high temperatures, similar to the bunker gear commonly worn by firefighters. But that sort of gear is tremendously heavy, unwieldy, and expensive. The best hazmat suit is specific to its job.
What Are Hazmat Suits Made From
A few different materials are common to find in hazmat suits. That’s because certain components are more resistant to certain exposures than others. The demands of mitigating particular threats determine the suit’s construction.
For example, a simple Tyvek or PVC suit offers reasonable protection against the splashing of potentially toxic chemicals. But a rubber suit might be necessary if you’re working with powerful acids or other potent chemicals that might break down a lower grade suit.
Some of the different materials you’ll find hazmat suits constructed from include:
- Tyvek
- PVC
- Rubber
- Teflon
- Rip-stop fabric
- Insulators
Shopping Guide: Hazmat Suits
In order to be confident in your full hazmat suit, you need to be aware of a few things. First, there are different classifications or levels of hazmat suits. For instance, If you need a military grade hazmat suit built to stand up to the rigors of operating in all manners of CBRN incidents, you’re going to spend more money than someone who wants a more straightforward Level C hazmat suit.
You’ll also need to understand a bit about sizing, user comfort, gas mask compatibility, shelf life, storage, and donning and doffing the suit. Plus, you’ll need accessories too. Check out our guide to find the best full hazmat suit for you and every member of your family.
Classifications
There are three main classes of hazmat suits. To figure out which classification is best for your application, you should consider the role you might play in a post-disaster situation, as well as the level of threat you want to prepare for. Just like in our examples above, it’s essential to realize that the more protective a suit is, the more tiring and cumbersome it becomes to wear.
That’s because the most protective suits are often also more bulky, stiff, hard to move in, and generally uncomfortable. They also tend to make the user sweat quite a bit, so hydration becomes quite essential, and it’s hard to get water when you’re inside of a suit unless it has an integrated hydration system.
Most suits don’t offer onboard hydration options, so if you don’t shop carefully, you could end up in a situation where you have to expose yourself to a health threat to get vital fluids. So it’s essential to plan for real-world use of your suit scaled to meet your needs.
To help you decide which suit you need and to standardize their use against various threats, the federal government has set standards for hazmat suits.
There are two different charts that classify CBRN suits. The 1994 National Fire Protection Act designates three classes of CBRN suits, Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. These designations coincide with the Level A, B, and C designations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Both classifications are meant to categorize suits into their respective capacity to defend against defined threats. This chart does a good job of showing how the classification systems stack up against one another. They’re quite similar.
But for our purposes, we follow the OSHA levels.
Level A suits provide the highest level of threat protection, Level C the lowest. Here are each of the levels broken down in detail.
Level A Hazmat Suit
A Level A suit encapsulates the user within. Their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) must also sit entirely inside of the suit.
Level A hazmat suits are for when airborne and liquid concentrations are at or above the level of being Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH). The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines IDLH conditions as one that “poses a threat of exposure to airborne contaminants when that exposure is likely to cause death or immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape from such an environment.”
This sort of threat environment requires the highest level of threat protection for both skin and the respiratory system. These suits are exceedingly expensive and need expensive additional accessories to use effectively.
For instance, you can’t have a Level A suit without a two-way radio and a completely encapsulated SCBA.
Level A Characteristics
- Complete protection of eyes, skin, breathing
- Chemical resistant gloves
- Steel-toed protective covers
- An integrated radio circuit for communicating
- A complete or ‘full-face’ shield
- Integrated and fully-contained SCBA with internal tank
- Bulky, sweaty, challenging to maneuver in
- Overkill for most applications
Level B Hazmat Suit
A Level B hazmat suit also encapsulates a user within the suit. But, the SCBA is contained outside of it.
These suits are for when airborne concentrations are at or above IDLH, but liquids aren’t as dangerous. That sort of situation requires the highest level of protection for a person’s respiratory system. But, since the liquid concentrations are below IDLH, these suits don’t provide the highest level of threat protection for a user’s skin.
To meet the Level B standards, suits also need to meet certain specifications for accessories. Importantly, the SCBA on a Level B suit can sit on the user’s back in an external tank.
Level B Characteristics
- Protection of eyes, skin, breathing
- Chemical resistant gloves
- Steel-toed protective covers
- An integrated radio circuit for communicating
- A complete or ‘full-face’ shield
- Integrated and fully-contained SCBA
- It does not require an internally contained SCBA tank
- Bulky, sweaty, challenging to maneuver in
- Overkill for most
Level C Hazmat Suit
Level C hazmat suits are for situations where airborne and liquid concentrations are both below IDLH, allowing for a reduced level of both respiratory and skin protection. These suits function for users who will be wearing a Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) or other Air Purifying Respirator (APR) system, as opposed to an SCBA.
Level C Characteristics
- It does not require an internally contained SCBA tank
- Works with traditional gas masks or other respirators
- General utility suit for CBRN protection
- Complete protection of eyes, skin, breathing
- Optional chemical resistant gloves
- Optional steel-toed protective covers
- Perfect for most families
- Optional integrated radio circuit for communicating
- Optional complete or ‘full-face’ shield
- Easier to maneuver in than bulky Class A or B suits
Shelf Life and Storage
Even the best hazmat suit will deteriorate over time. So, storing them in a cool, dry place where they won’t be exposed to direct sunlight, mold, critters, and insects is essential. Our top pick, the MIRA CBRN hazmat suit, can last for a decade or more when stored properly.
Other suits, particularly Level A suits, lose their effective life much more rapidly. That’s because even though they’re built to withstand higher-grade threats, even the slightest possibility of deterioration renders them useless. They can’t be trusted as safe outside of their relatively short certification period. They often have strict expiration dates or demands for inspection and recertification.
Sizing
As you might imagine, sizing a CBRN suit can be a bit difficult. Class A suits have to be big enough to not only wholly encapsulate the user, but an air purification system, radio, and heavy steel-toed shoes. Since these suits are so specialized and rare for use in the general public, it’s almost impossible to find a Class A suit for a child.
At the other end of the Class A sizing spectrum, it’s also pretty hard to find a suit for a huge person too. There’s not much room left over for an SCBA if a person’s body is already filling the suit!
The sweet spot for most workers, preppers, and the general public is in the Class B world of protective gear. Again, the MIRA CBRN suit stands out for its adaptability to either Class C or Class B operations, and its extreme range of sizing options makes it ideal for almost any shopper.
While many other manufacturers only offer suits in a couple of very general sizes (big and small), or even a ‘one-size-fits-most’ application, MIRA offers their Haz-Suit in just about whatever size you might need, including:
- 2x+
- LG/XL
- SM/MD
- SX
- YL
- YS
That means you can find an appropriate suit for small toddlers to large adults and everyone in between. Keeping everyone in your family safe requires that their individual suit fits well, so keep sizing guides in mind when you’re shopping for any CBRN gear.
It’s also important to remember that you’ll want to be comfortable in your gear while dressed for the conditions. For instance, if it’s wintertime and you’re on the move, you’ll want to consider having a bit of a more oversized suit to accommodate bulkier clothes.
That same thinking applies to accessories as well. Think you’ll need to carry a weapon, radio, canteen, or other gear on your person while wearing your suit? You’ll have to get one large enough to accommodate everything.
Think realistically!
User Comfort
A big part of shopping for a CBRN suit is being realistic about who will use it, how well they can wear it, and for how long. For a typical homeowner thinking about protecting their family from a disaster or a safety-conscious planner looking for protection from CBRN events, the duration of their exposure is going to be shorter than a first responder operating in a rescue or threat mitigation role.
Instead of heading into the danger zone, you’ll probably be more likely to be escaping to a remote area or a local shelter. So, consider that a bit of short-term discomfort is worth the tradeoff for greater protection. But if your radiation suit is so hard to move in that you can’t relocate, you’ll end up stuck in the danger zone.
Other Considerations
There are a few other things a CBRN suit shopper should consider.
The Difference Between a Hazmat Suit and a Radiation Suit
A hazardous materials suit doesn’t necessarily provide protection from radiation. There are two types of radiation, and both are quite hazardous. But one is so dangerous that even a heavy suit won’t help.
The first type of radiation is called ionizing radiation, or gamma and x-rays. Ionizing radiation is extremely dangerous, and there aren’t any suits on earth that are powerful enough to stand up to the bombardment of that sort of exposure. Instead, you’d need something more akin to a lead shield built into a thick concrete shelter to provide adequate protection in the event of an event that creates an ionizing radiation exposure.
The second type of radiation is called particle radiation, or more commonly, fallout. In all honesty, if you’re close enough to a nuclear detonation that you’re exposed to ionizing radiation, you’re probably too close to ground zero to survive. But, with the protection of a well-made radiation suit, you can certainly survive particle radiation exposure without being hurt.
And the best news is that a hazmat suit is pretty much the same thing as a particle radiation suit, whichever name you prefer to use. They both offer the wearer an impermeable layer that serves as a barrier from the dangers outside.
Accessories
When you’re shopping for CBRN suits, don’t forget that even the best suit is useless in providing respiratory protection. You’ll need either an SCBA, CAPR, gas mask, or respirator to wear while in your suit in order to protect your lungs and the rest of the respiratory tract.
Even a low-level gas mask with appropriate filters can cost a couple of hundred bucks. High-end SCBAs can cost as much as a used car. You should factor that additional expense into your budget. You should also remember that your respiratory protection has to fit inside your suit, and your skin needs to remain fully covered while wearing your mask.
Training: Donning and Doffing
Even after your shopping is completed and you are well-provisioned with survival gears and CBRN suits for you and your family, you aren’t ready to react to a CBRN event. That’s because putting on (donning) and taking off (doffing) your suit is an essential skill that every individual needs to practice.
It’s essential that everyone who will wear a CBRN suit knows how to don and doff it carefully. Consider that if the suit isn’t on correctly, it won’t offer complete protection. And if you take it off improperly post-exposure, you will inadvertently expose yourself to the dangerous substances that have accumulated on its outside while you were wearing it.
Check out this tutorial video for donning and doffing a DURACHEM 500 CBRN suit. It’s not as simple as it sounds. And you should always follow the recommendations of your suit’s manufacturer carefully.
Top 3 Best CBRN Suits
These are our top three picks for the very best hazmat radiation suits available.
The Best CBRN Suit: MIRA CBRN Hazmat Suit
We already talked about the MIRA Haz-Suit a bit, but it’s important we explain our preference for it and why we consider it the best hazmat suit, so you can understand why it’s the top pick in our roundup.
Why We Think It’s the Best CBRN Hazmat Radiation Suit
For most common citizens concerned about protecting themselves and their families from a CBRN incident, a Level C suit is the most appropriate choice. They don’t need the extreme protection provided by higher-level suits, as they won’t be operating on the front lines of hazard mitigation and response, like military and emergency rescue personnel.
Instead, they will be behind the front lines and trying to stay safe and probably on the move. These suits will help accomplish that goal.
Plus, whether you’re a doomsday prepper or just someone who is concerned about staying safe, it’s unlikely you would go to the expense of obtaining an extremely expensive SCBA setup for your CBRN response kit. Instead, you’d be much more likely to obtain less expensive and easier to use APR or CAPR units or traditional gas masks for respiratory protection.
So, this suit from MIRA is an ideal choice, as it’s the right price, the right comfort level, interoperable with your most likely respiratory protection devices, and it offers sizing for every member of the family. It meets Level C standards with a simple respirator and Level B standards with the appropriate respiratory protection.
Pros
- Provides Level C protection with a gas mask
- Capable of providing Level B protection with an SCBA
- Range of sizing options
- Relatively inexpensive
- Long storage life
- Comparatively comfortable
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Won’t stand up to extremely high-risk environments
Most Durable: MIRA Safety MOPP-1 CBRN Protective Suit
What we like
- It can be washed up to 10 times for decontamination
- Its the first kind of suite that is available for civilians
- Can be washed for decontamination up to 10 times
- Designed for long-term use
- Has a 10-year shelf life
- Made in the Czech Republic
What we don't like
- Expensive
If you're in need of extended protection in a contaminated environment, the Mira Safety MOPP-1 CBRN Protective Suit is a worthwhile investment. This suit is equipped with a breathable carbon layer that neutralizes chemicals and prevents heat buildup, allowing you to work for a full day without any exposure to CBRN threats. While the price of $899.95 may seem steep, the suit is washable up to 10 times and is the first of its kind to be available to civilians.
In addition to its protective properties, the suit is also puncture-resistant and features a digital camouflage pattern, giving it a uniform-like appearance rather than the typical bright white or fluorescent yellow colors of conventional hazmat suits.
The Mira Safety MOPP-1 CBRN Protective Suit is made in the Czech Republic and designed for long-term use, lasting up to 30 days under average conditions and up to 10 decontamination washes. If not exposed to CBRN threats, it can be worn for up to 10 years, provided it remains undamaged.
While the high price may be a deterrent for some, the Mira Safety MOPP-1 CBRN Protective Suit is an ideal choice for those who require the best possible protection in hazardous environments.
First Runner Up: The Dupont Tyvek 400 Protective Coverall
What we like
- Works with a gas mask or respirator
- Very inexpensive
- Long storage life
- Comparatively comfortable
- Does not meet Level C standards
What we don't like
- Won’t stand up to extremely high-risk environments
- Not appropriate for most CBRN exposures
- Narrow range of sizing options (XL, 2XL, 3XL)
- Lacks attached boots and gloves
Dupont’s Tyvek 400 CBRN Suit is one of the easiest to find on the market. They’re pretty rugged, but they aren’t available in near the range of sizes as the MIRA suit. So it’s going to be hard to fit some people, especially kids and smaller folks.
But, this Tyvek suit is a very common option found everywhere, from custodial settings to decontamination crews to firehouses and asbestos remediation companies. Unfortunately, these suits do not offer anywhere near the protection of a MIRA Haz-Suit.
They aren’t tested as rigorously, nor are they designed for the dangers of extreme threats. Instead, they’re the kind of thing you’ll see a crime scene investigator don before entering a bloody scene. But, they are much less expensive and a bit more comfortable than the MIRA option.
Alone, they provide adequate splash protection for exposure to body substances and other particles down to 1-micron size. When paired with a gas mask or other respirator, they are part of a protective ensemble that provides protection in low to medium threat environments, like hospital and other healthcare settings and a range of other applications.
Second Runner Up: The Dupont Tychem 2000 Chemical Suit
What we like
- Provides limited chemical protection
- Comparatively inexpensive
- Long storage life
- Comfortable
What we don't like
- Won’t stand up to very high-risk environments
- Very limited range of sizing options
- Not appropriate for some CBRN environments
- Brightly colored
- No boot coverings or gloves included
This suit from Tychem 2000 Chemical Suit from Dupont is a bit more protective than the Tyvek 200. Its fabric is still lightweight, reasonably comfortable, and offers decent maneuverability and agility to the wearer. In addition, the fabric carries a 30-minute rating as protective from more than forty known chemicals.
That’s not anywhere near the protection level afforded by the MIRA Haz-Suit, but it’s much better than the cheaper Tyvek 200. And, it’s still not very expensive. You could outfit your whole family with a suit for less than the cost of a single MIRA. You’ll still need respiratory protection, as well as separate gloves and boots with coverings, but there is an attached hood.
One thing you have to know about this suit is that it stands out, literally. It is bright yellow, so you won’t have much concealment ability without camouflage. It’s also only available in a couple of sizes, and XL is the most common.
CBRN Suits: Bottom Line
As you can see from this review, there is often a trade off between outright protection and practicality in shopping for a CBRN or hazmat suit. If you want to be best protected against a major nuclear event, a simple and comfortable suit isn’t going to cut it. You’ll need an extremely expensive, uncomfortable suit, as well as an even more expensive SCBA system to protect your lungs.
For the majority of shoppers, the expense of that setup is too unreasonable, and the likelihood of needing it is too low. The calculated and practical answer is often a suit that provides solid protection against a variety of threats, which can be worn with a relatively affordable gas mask or another respirator.
For us, that answer is the MIRA Haz-Suit. We think it’s the right answer for you and your family, too, so don’t delay in sizing your family for an order today. As the old axiom goes, it’s better to be prepared and not need it than to be unprepared and facing a disaster.
Sunny is the father of eight-year-old twins who is crazy about strategy and geopolitics, and that love can only be disturbed by his obsession with flying and diving to the depths. He also loves to travel and try the specialties of the places he travels. He loves to write about travel, gadgets, survival gear, and security.